By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. -- Willamette University moved up three positions into 14th place at the 2019 NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championships on Wednesday, May 15, as the second round concluded at the Keene Trace Golf Club. The Bearcats ended the day with a 36-hole score of 614 after shooting 308 on the Champion Trace course on Tuesday and shooting 306 at the Keene Run course on Wednesday. Sam Hinton (Sr., Seaside, OR/Seaside HS) led the Bearcats with a 1-under-par 71 in the second round that advanced him into a tie for 20th on the individual leaderboard.

The NCAA Championships began with 42 teams, but only the top 18 teams, including the Bearcats, advanced after 36 holes into the final rounds on Thursday, May 16 and Friday, May 17. In addition, the top six golfers who were not on any of the top 18 teams also advanced into the final two rounds.

Hinton's 71 followed a 77 in the first round, as he concluded 36 holes at 148 in a nine-way tie for 20th place. Austin Davis (Fr., Culver City, CA/Culver City HS) of Willamette was at 153 and tied for 54th after two rounds, as he carded a 78 in the opening round and a 75 in the second round.

Also for the Bearcats, Trent Jones (Sr., Kenmore, WA/Shorecrest HS) and Andrew Kibbee (Fr., Kenmore, WA/Bothell HS) were tied for 102nd at 157 and Kenneth Sheldon (Sr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) was tied for 112th at 158. Jones shot 78-79, while Kibbee shot 76-81 and Sheldon carded 77-81. A total of 215 golfers competed in the first two rounds.

Illinois Wesleyan University, which led after the first day with a score of 1-under-par 287 on the Keene Run course, maintained the led by shooting 4-over-par 291 at the Champion Trace course in the second round. The Titans have an overall score of 578 for a four-stroke lead.

Guilford College (N.C.) moved up four spots in the second round to grab second place after 36 holes. Guilford shot 296 in the first round at Champion Trace and shot 286 in the second round at Keen Run for a total of 582. Wittenberg University (Ohio) was third at 587 (295-292), with Huntingdon College (Ala.) in fourth at 590 (299-291).

Three teams, Oglethorpe University (Ga.), Trinity College (Conn.) and Methodist University (N.C.) were tied for fifth place at 598. Oglethorpe shot 295-303, Trinity earned 209-308 and Methodist carded 300-298.

Cameron Willis of Wittenberg and Zane Brownrigg of Methodist shared the top spot on the individual leaderboard at the conclusion of the second round. Both golfers shot even-par 72 in the first round and 2-under-par 70 in the second round, for overall scores of 142.

Six golfers followed in a tie for third place at 143. Those tied for third were Jacob Arnett from Oglethorpe and Josh Hill from Guilford who both shot 73-70, Josh Gibson from Hope College (Mich.) who carded 72-71, Drew Mathers from Huntingdon and Drew Pershing from Illinois Wesleyan who both shot 70-73, and Sam Goldenring of Williams College (Mass.) who led after the first round with a 69 and then shot 74.

Willamette's golfers will be matched up with golfers from Hampden-Sydney College (Va.) and North Carolina Wesleyan College in the third round on Thursday, May 16. Tee times for the Bearcats will be between 8:20 a.m. and 9 a.m. (EDT), all on the 10th hole. The tee times will be three hours earlier on the West Coast (PDT).

All of the teams that made Wednesday's cut will play at Champion Trace on Thursday. Half of the field will start on the first hole and half of the field will begin on the 10th hole. All 18 teams will play again on Friday, May 17 at Champion Trace.

Big Moment of the Day for Willamette

Sam Hinton shot a 1-under-par 71 in the second round of the
NCAA Championships to move into a tie for 20th place at 148
after 36 holes. His round included a total of five birdies on the
Keene Run course. He shot 1-under-par 35 on the front nine
and even-par 36 on the back nine. He helped Willamette move
into 14th place in the team standings.